We are eternal creatures. We lived with God long before we came here to Earth. Gender is a essential characteristic of our eternal identity. We were created as men, we are men, and will continue to be men in the eternities. No amount of dressing up, fornicating with gays, getting surgery, taking hormones or changing names will change this, ever. This is who we were, are, and we will be forever. Same goes for women. You were, are, and will always be women.
Marriage and families can be eternal as well. As long as we choose to be with them and we live worthy of those blessings, those ties we make in this life will continue. Knowing this has profound consequence. No longer does it mean that we should pretend this is a game to see who has the best score in the end. We need to treat our family so that they will want to be with us for the eternities to come.
Among God's earliest commandments given to us was to "multiply and replenish the Earth". We are to have children. Yes, kids can be a burden to carry, but they are a source of some of the greatest joys and purpose in life. By creating children, we are fulfilling a large purpose of our coming here. Rarely do families regret having children once the work has been completed and you can look at your grandchildren or great-grandchildren and see the progress they are making. This will continue on after our lives.
Perhaps you were unable to have children, or never were afforded that opportunity. If we have lived a good life, and were unable to have kids in this life, God will not curse us with a solitude existence forever. Perhaps it will be in the afterlife, but the ability to grow our progeny will continue on as long as we follow Christ's teachings.
Having a big family may be a lot of stress, but it does create closeness. Your wife becomes more dependent on you for the income, and you become more dependent on her to take care of the kids and to teach them right from wrong. As the number of children increases, they become less dependent on you or electronics for entertainment. Kids will naturally play with each other and learn to interact.
In time, you may have grandchildren. Your grown up children will ask you to babysit. Do it, even if it is inconvenient. By babysitting your children's kids, you are helping to grow the extended family relationships you will need as you become more geriatric. In doing genealogical research, I noticed 100 years ago, it was expected for grandparents to move in with their kids as they age. I believe this is the natural order of things, and you should if they allow it. You may not be physically able to do some things in your golden years, but you can impart so much wisdom to the younger generations, you can spend time and influence the younger generations for good. This idea of being carted off to some retirement home does not seem natural, much like farming the education of your children out to the government. Do your best to stick with your family and be that influence your children and grandchildren need.
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